Andre Smith

[Kazkal]

This kind of bums me out. I was hoping for the announcement that Smith was crushing it, that stiff Roland was headed for the bench, and our skin zepplin would be holding down a tackle spot for about 10 years.

This guy better stick around the facility in the off-season this year. Work out hard, don't balloon up to 370, just get better.

But his time may be soon. only 6 words but it gives me hope!

[membengal]

I have the game after the bye targeted for skin zepplin's ascension to the line-up.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

don't balloon up to 270

he'd have to lose a whole person to get down to 270 :-)

(yeah, I knew you meant three, not two)

Are we conceding the 4?

[ArmyBengal]

Lapham said when in shape and motivated Andre Smith was the best lineman in that draft, no one was even close.

I and many others here have made the same comment. Only thing is, that hasn't translated over to the NFL that well to this point.

Much of that can be placed on injury, but motivation has to be a key player in that.

I want nothing more than to see him get and stay motivated !!!

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

I want nothing more than to see him get and stay motivated !!!

Have we considered hanging a pork chop from the opposite goalpost?

[COB]

Yep, I meant 370, not 270.

I've been excited by his play at times. Individual plays that make you shake your head at how good he can be. I saw him running downfield in the preseason, a d-end running alongside. Andre just reached out and chucked him, by the time he made contact, Andre's arms were almost fully extended. And the guy just went flying, completely out of any hope to make a play.

But the occassional total whiff could be hazardous to Carson's health. So I see why they're looking at him at guard. Maybe this will motivate him to get with it.

We really need Alvin Keels' input on this, seeing as how he was such an expert on Andre to begin with.

[Spor_tees]

Hmmm does Marvin read these message boards? Or do they have a scout watching over us? I said he might be a good fit at guard and WHAM-O he has been taking some practice snaps at...RG. The exact place I said they should put him. Talk about opening some massive holes, Whitworth and Dre on the same side of the line? It could get nasty.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Whitworth and Dre on the same side of the line? It could get nasty.

It does sound tasty. I would hope that Mikey would have seen that over the last few years, a really good G (usually LG) is worth about as much as a RT. So there shouldn't be a stigma attached to playing him there. Look at Steve Hutchinson and tell me that a fantastic guard isn't worth his pay. And there Fat Andre could, as you say, just embrace his inner road grader and not have to worry about his footwork.

[TJJackson]

Hell, let's teach him to snap the ball, and play him at center :-)

Seriously tho - I honestly believe that he'll need to find motivation before he will be a starter at ANY position - and when he does, RT is the right place for him to be

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

So Fat Andre was deactivated this week. Also sounds like he got a little testy when asked about it by a reporter.

Seems like he's moving in the wrong direction. Anybody in town have intel?

[gregstephens]

don't balloon up to 270

he'd have to lose a whole person to get down to 270 :-)

(yeah, I knew you meant three, not two)

Are we conceding the 4?

Alright you guys. It's obvious what's going on here. Smith is a victim of 'depression eating'. And all you guys making fun of him ain't helping!

[TJJackson]

Alright you guys. It's obvious what's going on here. Smith is a victim of 'depression eating'. And all you guys making fun of him ain't helping!

after reading your post, I felt really bad -- and to make it up to Andre, I had three slabs of Dreamland bbq ribs and all the fixings (incl a gallon of banana pudding) shipped to his house as an apology.

I feel a lot better for having apologized.

[gregstephens]

Alright you guys. It's obvious what's going on here. Smith is a victim of 'depression eating'. And all you guys making fun of him ain't helping!

after reading your post, I felt really bad -- and to make it up to Andre, I had three slabs of Dreamland bbq ribs and all the fixings (incl a gallon of banana pudding) shipped to his house as an apology.

I feel a lot better for having apologized.

If you could, please detour that gallon of banana pudding my way...I'll make sure it gets to Eddie Van Heffer safe and sound.

[membengal]

So Fat Andre was deactivated this week. Also sounds like he got a little testy when asked about it by a reporter.

Seems like he's moving in the wrong direction. Anybody in town have intel?

He got mad about it? Good news if so. Didn't know he gave a s**t about playing. If he does, maybe there is hope for him yet.

[ArmyBengal]

Hardly...

The person he deferred the questions to was, wait for it...

His agent.

[HoosierCat]

Hardly...

The person he deferred the questions to was, wait for it...

His agent.

Well, to be fair, his mouth was full...

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Hardly...

The person he deferred the questions to was, wait for it...

His agent.

Yeah, I liked that. No way, you mean the guy who completly FUBARed the interviews at the combine won't answer for himself? I don't believe it.

[derekshank]

Per Reedy at player organized OTAs:

Andre Smith still has a boot on his foot but hopes its off by the end of week. He has also slimmed down. Definitely not over 350. Biggest thing Smith said he is working besides rehabbing the foot is nutrition. It shows. Definitely leaner.

[ArmyBengal]

And if big Dre can come in and solidify that o-line, things will be taking a turn for the better.

Still has a boot, but is leaner having lost weight?? Sounds like someone got motivated and learned how to take care of himself even when injured.

[derekshank]

And if big Dre can come in and solidify that o-line, things will be taking a turn for the better.

Still has a boot, but is leaner having lost weight?? Sounds like someone got motivated and learned how to take care of himself even when injured.

Yeah it's certainly not a bad sign.

He knows that he squandered his rookie season with a holdout and then got hurt. Same for his sophomore season where he showed up out of shape, overweight, and got reinjured (after he lost playing time).

He's only got 2 years to convince MB to pick up that option making the 4 year contract a 6 year contract. And in order to do that, he's got a whole hell of a lot to prove in a very limited amount of time. I'm guessing that ship has already sailed... but I applaud the effort.

[ArmyBengal]

I think if he were to come back and be the type of player they thought they were going to get, he could certainly change some minds.

That being said, that appears (at this time) to be a fairly large undertaking.

I'm still rooting for him as well.

[Sea Ray]

Has he really been in a boot for 7 months or so?

[HoosierCat]

Per Reedy at player organized OTAs:

Andre Smith still has a boot on his foot but hopes its off by the end of week. He has also slimmed down. Definitely not over 350. Biggest thing Smith said he is working besides rehabbing the foot is nutrition. It shows. Definitely leaner.

Great news.

[volcom69]

Im happy about this, he is a big part of the puzzle and the Bengals need him. Hope he keeps up the good work, and he gets out of the boot by the end of this week, so he can start practicing, i like it.

[BengalPimp]

Im happy about this, he is a big part of the puzzle and the Bengals need him. Hope he keeps up the good work, and he gets out of the boot by the end of this week, so he can start practicing, i like it.

Yeah, glad to see he's watching his weight, but as for the boot? I say since there's nothing really going on now anyways, just keep it in there to protect it. No sense in taking it off early and re-injuring it while they're locked out anyways.

I think a hidden positive here is, since the players are locked out, he cannot train/rehab at the team's facilities or with the Trainers.........Believe it or not, THAT'S A PLUS, because the Bengals medical staff is a Joke. Hopefully he has his own personal trainer.